Looking for a trig,jig,and topwater rod

[Bassinislife]

I am looking for a trig jig/topwater rod

7’ 2” -7’ 5” MH-h fast  

I have been looking at the 

lew’s custom lite 

lew’s custom speed stick 

Daiwa tatula 

dobyns fury 

st Croix mojo bass 

is there any other rod that you would recommend? 

Will a trig and jig rod work for larger topwater? 

Thanks.

[Riversidebassin]

I have the mojo bass and I loveeee it! It is a great rod for the price, and if anything ever happens to it St. Croix has great costumer service and will most likely replace it for free. It is really sensitive, which is especially nice for jigs and t rigs.

 

I haven’t owned or tried anything else on the list you have, so I can’t help much there but from what I’ve heard the Dobyns fury is a pretty popular rod.

 

Something similar to the mojo bass imo (in price and feel) is the Abu Garcia Ike signature casting rod. I have a mh 7’2” in this rod and use it mostly for jigs and plastics and I really like it! It’s a little nose heavy and I’m sure there are better rods out there, but for the price it’s hard to beat. Plus it looks super sick

 

A jig rod CAN work for topwaters, but they are two very different techniques. I’m not much of a topwater person, but I do know that many people set up their topwater rigs similar to jig/t rig rigs when it comes to the gear ratio (high) of the reel and the power (mh-h). For both applications a mh or H is good, but do some research on the different brands before you jump in and buy one because each brand is a little different when it comes to rating their rods for power (for example, St. Croix tends to run heavy, so to some a MH feels more like an H. Shimano tends to run light, so a MH may feel like a M). But ultimately it is up to you and what you prefer. 

 

good luck!

[Bassinislife]

21 minutes ago, Riversidebassin said:

I have the mojo bass and I loveeee it! It is a great rod for the price, and if anything ever happens to it St. Croix has great costumer service and will most likely replace it for free. It is really sensitive, which is especially nice for jigs and t rigs.

 

I haven’t owned or tried anything else on the list you have, so I can’t help much there but from what I’ve heard the Dobyns fury is a pretty popular rod.

 

Something similar to the mojo bass imo (in price and feel) is the Abu Garcia Ike signature casting rod. I have a mh 7’2” in this rod and use it mostly for jigs and plastics and I really like it! It’s a little nose heavy and I’m sure there are better rods out there, but for the price it’s hard to beat. Plus it looks super sick

 

A jig rod CAN work for topwaters, but they are two very different techniques. I’m not much of a topwater person, but I do know that many people set up their topwater rigs similar to jig/t rig rigs when it comes to the gear ratio (high) of the reel and the power (mh-h). For both applications a mh or H is good, but do some research on the different brands before you jump in and buy one because each brand is a little different when it comes to rating their rods for power (for example, St. Croix tends to run heavy, so to some a MH feels more like an H. Shimano tends to run light, so a MH may feel like a M). But ultimately it is up to you and what you prefer. 

 

good luck!

Oh and when I say topwater I mean larger spooks and frogs 

thanks 

[bwjay]

You may want two different rods for these applications. A jig rod should be very sensitive and have a fairly fast taper. A topwater rod doesn't need to be sensitive and should be a little slower so you don't rip the hooks out on hookset. You could use a single rod for moving baits with single and treble hooks as well as topwater, as the requirements are somewhat similar. A jig rod though has very clear cut requirements that don't heavily overlap with those of moving baits or topwater. As Riversidebassin said, the reel may play a part too, but not that much. For a moving bait + topwater rod, I'd prefer an HG reel, to be able to slow it down easier, with a jig/T-rig/worm rod combined with an XG reel, to pick up slack line.

 

I haven't used any rods you mentioned, but I have a St Croix Premier 7' MHF that is as heavy as my Kistler H3 7' HXF. St Croix rods definitely run heavy. The action is pretty decent on the Premier though and I used it for topwater, frogs, spinnerbaits, lipped and lipless cranks... basically everything but jigs actually. I wanted something lighter for frogging though... my H3 is 1.4oz lighter and I can definitely feel it. It was $100 more than the Premier though. Overall the Premier is a nice rod but I'll be selling it as soon as I get off my lazy butt and list it. Still caught me some nice fish though and it's fairly sensitive. I just upgraded so I don't need it anymore.

[WRB]

Depends on the top water bait, very different rod requirements then bottom contact lures like jigs and worms.

What top water lures are you using?

Tom

[Bassinislife]

6 minutes ago, WRB said:

Depends on the top water bait, very different rod requirements then bottom contact lures like jigs and worms.

What top water lures are you using?

Tom

Frogs and walking baits I’m thinking that a jig rod will work for frogs? 

[WRB]

Most top water lures you want a rod that has a more forgiving tip that casts accuractly and can work a lure. Frogs tend to be used over the top of heavy cover, you always see the strike so no need to detect it like a blind strike underwater. If you use braid to cut through the heavy cover after hooking the bass you need a strong rod. Top water lures like spooks you need a rod that can work the lure to walk it, a forgiving tip like the frog rod but not braid for heavy cover, usually working the lure along the weed line breaks. Don't need braid for spooks or most other top water lures, a moderate fast action rod works well.

Jigs and worms you don't see the strike it's blind and must detect it. A rod with stronger tip helps strike detection and hook sets. 

You can do this with 1 rod but something needs to be sacrificed. Too fast a tip and you mis surface strikes, too slow a tip you mis most underwater jig and worm strikes.

What are you willing to give up?

Tom

[Bassinislife]

What reels would you guys recommend as well ? 

[bwjay]

Throw an HG SLX on there regardless of what you get. Works well for all applications. 

[Bassinislife]

Just now, bwjay said:

Throw an HG SLX on there regardless of what you get. Works well for all applications. 

How does that reel compare to the Daiwa tatula ct ? 

[bwjay]

5 hours ago, Bassinislife said:

How does that reel compare to the Daiwa tatula ct ? 

Not a clue. But I have been pleased with my SLX and SLX XT and think they're sturdy, powerful, fairly smooth reels for $100 and $130. As far as reels go they seem inexpensive given their performance so that's why I recommended the SLX.

[LionHeart]

Well young man, what size weights do you plan to use with those texas rigs?  

 

A jig rod can absolutely be used for frogs and Texas rigs.  Where you will run into problems is trying to find a rod light enough to properly throw a light Texas rig and be stout enough to drag a bass through slop.

 

The ALX Toadface is touted to possess both qualities, but I personally would not use it for frogs or jigs.

 

Got a budget?

[Bassinislife]

3 hours ago, LionHeart said:

Well young man, what size weights do you plan to use with those texas rigs?  

 

A jig rod can absolutely be used for frogs and Texas rigs.  Where you will run into problems is trying to find a rod light enough to properly throw a light Texas rig and be stout enough to drag a bass through slop.

 

The ALX Toadface is touted to possess both qualities, but I personally would not use it for frogs or jigs.

 

Got a budget?

My budget for the setup is around $250 to $300 

i usually throw a Texas rig with a 1/4 to 1/2  weight and if I did go lower I would just go with a spinning rod 

[Mikeltee]

Budget and sizes of lures please? Also do you plan on flipping or frogging in heavy cover? 3/8 - 1/2 oz is a 4 power. 1/2 -1oz is a 5 power. Frogging and flipping is a 5 or 6 power. Treble hooks is a moderate action rod power depends on weight. You really need 3 rods to satisfy your techniques well or you can just get a MH and roll with the punches. I forewarn you now. If you are new and posting here looking for 1 rod you will be back in a month looking for 5 more. Get out while you still can and go buy an ugly stick and catch fish.

[Bassinislife]

3 minutes ago, Mikeltee said:

Budget and sizes of lures please? Also do you plan on flipping or frogging in heavy cover? 3/8 - 1/2 oz is a 4 power. 1/2 -1oz is a 5 power. Frogging and flipping is a 5 or 6 power. Treble hooks is a moderate action rod power depends on weight. You really need 3 rods to satisfy your techniques well or you can just get a MH and roll with the punches. I forewarn you now. If you are new and posting here looking for 1 rod you will be back in a month looking for 5 more. Get out while you still can and go buy an ugly stick and catch fish.

Usually I fish heavy cover and use a mh which works at the moment and I think that I will try to get a rod for just treble hooks during the winter 

[newyorktoiowa57]

72MH expride if you can find it. I would definitely get a softer rod for top water though. 

[Mikeltee]

1 hour ago, Bassinislife said:

Usually I fish heavy cover and use a mh which works at the moment and I think that I will try to get a rod for just treble hooks during the winter 

If you already have a MH get a 5 or 6 power. I have a dobyns champion dc736c for frogs and flipping. It walks the heck out of a frog and can dig them out of the nastiest slop. You can find it for around $200 at times. If you want the ultimate end game jig rod save up for an nrx 894. That is what I am doing now. Surely it can frog as well. For $80 you can get a kvd crankin stick. You dont need to drop a lot of coin on crankin as long as its moderate action.